How to not train for a 5k

Disclaimer: I’m posting this now, even though it’s been a month since I originally typed this up. Still, it sets up what I’ll be talking about for the foreseeable future here on the blog and else where.

I’ve spent the past week essentially cloistering myself and the rest of the family inside due to Canadian wildfire smoke, but recovering from a 5k on Saturday. This was my third 5k of 2023 and consistency was what saved the day from being a total washout in terms of my own opinion about how I preformed. You would think that given this was my third 5k I would have been better prepared, and I would tell you that was indeed the whole idea behind committing to the race back in March. You see, I knew I had limited time in April since that was when I was working on finishing out my Master’s program and teaching through arguably one of the most intense times in high school in the United States, standardized testing time. So, the 5k that I did back then (on April 30th) was another baseline test to see if I could cross the finish line.

Unfortunately, that period of time not only messed with any training, but any sort of work out routine that I’d established, and while the desire to get back on the road or stationary bike is there, it’s been difficult. Now, that’s not from lack of desire or motivation, it’s that things are so out of whack that it’s hard to find the rhythm again because while I might have a few strong days, it’s still very easy to fall out of the pattern. Which prompts this blog’s title because I’m fully aware of the fact that my training regiment is very lack luster. Did I cross the finish line- yes. I held pretty consistent with my last 5k’s time. Was it my best effort though?

That one, dear reader, is less clear. I definitely ran my heart out. I gave my fullest effort to the race. But I could have done better had I put in the training. And while this blog… this site… is for celebrating the victories in publishing… in life… it’s good to show the shortcomings too. My next 5k that I plan on running (though others may pop up in between) is in the fall, near Thanksgiving to be precise. Here’s to pledging to put forth the effort and get back out on the road and actually put in the time and establish a new PR. I run these races to test what is possible for me and honestly.. they’re a blast due to the atmosphere and support. I might have been a slow runner out there last Saturday but every runner I came across, every spectator, made sure that I felt like I could cross that finish line and that they believed that I could. But, like with everything, I’m not going to see the results unless I put in the time.

July edit- Well… there was another race that did indeed pop up on my schedule. I’m happy to say that I did indeed learn from history and have already begun the training. I’m also happy to say here comes my first ever half marathon! Now realize that my goal with any of these races here is to cross the finish line. I’m not trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon here (if ever). Am I ready for a half- who knows. We don’t know what we’re really capable of until we get there. Am I going to try my best- hell yeah. Keep your eyes out here and other socials to see how we do.

A Lasting Legacy

I’ve been writing and publishing for 10 years (yes, I’m including the three year hiatus from publishing in this number). I’ve published around 10 books between different pen names. I’ve written far more (though many of these are currently in varied states of completion). Legacy comes from one of these once abandoned stories. In fact, it was one of the few stories that my husband (just my boyfriend at the time) actively kept up on (and my husband is not a reader). I’m keep this intentionally vague to not spoil Legacy at all since some elements of these once abandoned tales did make their way into that book and it’s relatively new. There is a statute of limitations on these things though because I will let the spoilers fly freely for series or movie that’s more than a year and a half old because there’ll have been plenty of time to catch up.

Regardless, because of this writing process, I have more than a few tales from the land of Segen and would love to share them with you. Perhaps one day I’ll share what Liz’s first journey through Segen looked like in some form. It’s a well over 10 year old story at this point and needs some love before that happens, but I will share another story form the Segenian vaults that is able to be shared a bit easier. This one is referenced in Legacy and brownie points to you in the comments who is in the know. So, over the summer, I’ll be serializing this novella on here, though things won’t likely kick off in earnest for at least another week or so.

Stay tuned for the Source of Corruption.

Establishing a Labor of Love

Maybe a better title is re-establishing a labor of love. I’m coming off a three year hiatus from publishing and really doing much writing beyond papers for school. That’s never to say that I didn’t do any writing, in fact, Legacy wouldn’t be live now if I didn’t do something productive in that time, but it was far from my main focus.

That was a good thing though. I think often many (and I got caught in the trap myself) look at writing as a career with anything but writing full time as a failure. It’s far from it. Creating is now my summer job since the day job is teaching, but I’ve rediscovered my passion for it. I chase the stories I want to tell instead of simply what will sell. (Full disclaimer, nothing wrong with looking at trends and writing toward them, but it’s hard for me to do well) Will they ever make me rich? Maybe. That’s for the readers to decide if they want to take a chance. I’ll just make the best books possible and put heart into them again.